Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has vowed to crackdown on English-speaking separatists in the francophone country after holding his first cabinet meeting since 2015.
Paul Biya, 84 on Thursday chaired the cabinet meeting, making it the fourth meeting he has held since 2012.
“The efforts (of the security forces) must be continued, especially to ensure a return of normal economic and social activity,” Biya told the meeting.
Biya has been in power for 35 years, making him one of the longest serving leaders of an African country, but holding cabinet meetings is very rare under his watch.
Cameroon is currently witnessing agitations from the people of the country’s English speaking region who have accused the Francophone majority of discrimination.
Their concerns ranges from not getting jobs opportunities and having legal systems in French language imposed on them.
Those claims have been rejected by the government. There has been a crackdown on such dissents as well in the past months with hundreds arrested just over the past four months.
Cameroon was colonised by Germany but was split into British and French areas after World War One.
President Biya is bidding to run another term in this year’s election but reportedly spends much of his time outside the country because of health concerns.
Source: Africafeeds.com
